If you’re wondering if Martin D-10E is a good acoustic guitar or not, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s review, I’m going to take a very close look on that popular model to see if it’s worth the money. Surely, a lot of people claim that this is one of the most affordable Martin guitars out there, but is it actually true?
The truth is that Martin D-10E is an excellent acoustic-electric guitar suitable for both amateur and more advanced players. It’s not as expensive as some of the high-end Martin guitars, but it still features a really high quality. Undoubtedly, it’s definitely worth every cent!
Let’s dive deeper with research to find out what exactly makes this guitar so special. Firstly, we’ll start with the detailed specs and the major advantages of D-10E. Of course, the sound demo will be included as well! In the next section, we’ll see if it has any flaws. Hopefully, this guide will help you to figure out if Martin D-10E is the right fit for you!
Specs & Pricing
Martin D-10E Road Series is an excellent acoustic-electric guitar suitable for both amateur and more intermediate guitarists. It features a really good quality and it can be efficiently used for gigging and studio recording.
This particular model features a solid spruce top with sapele back and sides. On top of that, there’s a very comfortable neck. Most of the time, Martin uses either mahogany or Spanish cedar wood for these necks. When you look at the official specs, Martin calls it a Select Hardwood. This gives them more flexibility to use whatever is available at the moment.
Although it’s one of the most affordable guitars manufactured by Martin, it offers a very high quality and attention to detail. The guitar is made with a thorough precision and it definitely looks and feels like a true Martin guitar.
What’s important, the manufacturer equipped this guitar with a good and reliable Fishman MX-T pickup. This is a really big advantage of the D-10E model, because it allows you to easily plug in this guitar into an amp. Even when you use the amplifier, the guitar has a very nice and balanced tone.
When it comes to pricing, it’s not cheap. Nevertheless, when you compare Martin D-10E with other great guitars by this manufacturer (such as Martin D-28 which is far more expensive), this acoustic-electric model seems to be a real bargain. That’s why I highly recommend checking it out!
Here’s the sound demo.
Natural Sapele Version
What’s interesting, there’s also a second version of Martin D-10E. Overall, it’s pretty much the same as the previous model and it features a very high quality as well. Still, it looks and sounds a little bit different. In this case, the guitar features a solid sapele body with sapele back and sides.
Again, this guitar is perfect for both amateur and more advanced guitar players. Whether you’re into fingerpicking, strumming or fingerstyle playing – this guitar won’t disappoint you. And what’s more, it’s actually a bit less expensive than the previous model which features a solid spruce top!
I highly encourage you to check it out if you’re searching for a good and reliable acoustic-electric guitar that offers a lot of versatility. Undoubtedly, it’s one of the best and most affordable Martin guitars out there.
Here’s the demo.
Solid Spruce Top vs Solid Sapele Top
It is totally understandable if you’re wondering which one of these models is better. The truth is that it’s really difficult to choose a clear winner of that battle. Both of these guitars sound awesome, so it all depends on your preferences.
Personally, I think that the sapele model sounds slightly better. It has glassy highs and it feels a bit more intimate. On top of that, it looks more interesting to me! Still, I’m sure that a lot of guitarists would choose the solid spruce top instead.
Which one of them would you choose? Check out the sound comparison below and let me know what you think in the comments below, I’m really curious!
Martin D-10E – Who Is It For?
As I mentioned before, Martin D-10E can be efficiently used by both beginner and more intermediate musicians. This is an excellent instrument to start with, so if you’re searching for your first guitar, it will be a great choice.
Most of the time, the D-10E model is used by mid-level and professional musicians. The reason is very simple – it’s affordable and it sounds awesome when you plug it in into an amp! In my opinion, this is one of the best acoustic-electric guitars for gigging that you can find on the current guitar market.
It is also worth mentioning that Martin D-10E is a very versatile guitar, so it can be used in a lot of different styles of music. Whether you’re into country, blues, rock or indie – choosing this model will be an excellent choice.
Disadvantages of Martin D-10E
Believe it or not, but it’s really tough to find any major disadvantages of that guitar. It exceeds all the expectations and it features an exceptional quality.
The only con of the D-10E model is the fact that it will steal a lot of your time. It will definitely inspire you to practice more to become a better guitarist. So be careful – there’s a high chance that you won’t have time and energy to do anything else!
Are There Any Alternatives?
If you don’t like the look or the sound of Martin D-10E, don’t worry – there’s still a few great alternatives out there. Here’s a few acoustic-electric guitars that you can also check out if you’re searching for a good and reliable guitar of this type.
| Yamaha FGX800C | See on Amazon |
| Guild F-240E | See on Amazon |
| Fender Newporter Classic | See on Amazon |
| Takamine GD11MCE | See on Amazon |
| Gretsch G5022C Rancher | See on Amazon |
Yamaha FGX800C
Yamaha FGX800C is a really cool and affordable acoustic-electric guitar suitable for the most demanding players. In comparison with Martin D-10E, it’s way less expensive.
The guitar features a solid spruce top with nato back and sides. In addition, there’s a really good under-saddle pickup with a 3-band EQ and a built-in tuner. Overall, the guitar sounds great and it features a really nice, balanced tone.
Although it’s not as exceptional as the Martin, it’s still a great option for guitarists on a tight budget. If you don’t want to spend too much on a new guitar, you should definitely check it out!
Guild F-240E
Guild F-240E is an another really cool and alternative option for all musicians who are not satisfied with Martin D-10E. This particular model features a jumbo body shape, which results with a bit louder and more resonant sound.
The guitar features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. On top of that, there’s a mahogany neck, which feels absolutely amazing too. What’s important, the manufacturer equipped this model with Fishman AP-1 electronics, so you can easily use that guitar on stage.
Although the jumbo-sized guitars aren’t for everyone, the F-240E definitely deserves a lot of attention. It’s not too expensive and it features a very good quality – who needs anything else?
Fender Newporter Classic
Fender Newporter Classic is an another interesting acoustic-electric guitar suitable for the most demanding guitarists. In comparison with Martin D-10E, this Fender has a bit slimmer and thinner neck, which almost feels like an electric guitar.
The guitar features a solid spruce top with solid mahogany back and sides. It has a Fender-exclusive Newporter body shape, which looks really interesting as well. On top of that, the manufacturer equipped this model with a great preamp system that allows you to use that guitar during live gigs.
Who is it for? Well, if you’re looking for an exceptional acoustic guitar that feels like an electric guitar, you should definitely spend some time to check out this model. It’s definitely one of the most interesting mid-range acoustic-electric guitars out there!
Takamine GD11MCE
Takamine GD11MCE is an another affordable acoustic-electric guitar that deserves a lot of recognition. Why is it so special? Well, it’s entirely made of mahogany wood.
The guitar features a solid mahogany body with mahogany back and sides. In addition there’s a very comfortable mahogany neck. The GD11MCE model has a very nice and warm sound which can be efficiently used for fingerstyle playing.
Although it’s not as good as Martin D-10E, it’s way less expensive and it still features a really good quality. I have no hesitation in recommending this model to all guitarists who are searching for a great sounding acoustic-electric guitar!
Gretsch G5022C Rancher
Gretsch G5022C Rancher is one of the most popular acoustic-electric guitars manufactured by Gretsch. The guitar features a unique body shape and an interesting triangular soundhole, so as you can imagine – it looks fantastic!
What makes it so popular? Well, the guitar features a solid spruce top with laminated maple back and sides. In addition, the manufacturer equipped this model with a really good under-saddle pickup (Fishman Sonicore) which offers a great tone on stage.
I think that the Rancher will be a perfect choice for guitarists who are searching for something different rather than a classic dreadnought acoustic-electric guitar. It’s also a bit more affordable than Martin D-10E, so that’s also really important for guitarists with a small budget.
FAQ
Where is Martin D-10E made?
Martin D-10E is manufactured in Mexico.
What strings does Martin D-10E have?
Marint D-10E features a set of Martin Authentic Acoustic Lifespan 2.0 strings.
Who plays on Martin guitars?
Martin guitars are used by a lot of professional guitarists. If you want to see the list of musicians who are officially using their gear, check out their official website.
Summary
As you can see, Martin D-10E is a truly exceptional acoustic-electric guitar. It can be efficiently used by both amateur and more intermediate guitarists. That’s why I highly recommend checking it out! If you’re searching for a great sounding and reliable instrument, you should definitely give this model a chance.
What do you think about this acoustic guitar? Would you add it to your own guitar collection? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for checking out today’s review, hopefully it was helpful! If you enjoyed this post and you want to read more about acoustic guitars, you may also like:
